I didn't post about it because I thought the board was still broken. It appears as if it will close before Jan 1, so some of us are getting together for a Mighty Meat Wind Tribute Dinner on Thursday, Dec 26th at 6 PM.

a few comments:1. whatever you think of them, with the loss of gran castillo, little miss, the haitian barbershop, king's pharmacy (see other thread) and their potential replacement with chain retailers, we are losing essential things that defined our neighborhood, that made it prospect heights as opposed to paramus or ronkonkomo, or akron for that matter.2. given the glut of empty retail space -- the ups place on flatbush is still empty after how many years? -- i wonder if the property owners are overreaching and will leave us with gaping, empty storefronts for years to come.3. if gran castillo goes, where will i get my perfect meal -- rice and beans, plantains and a dos equis? viva carne viente!

Z-7 Diner at 355 Flatbush, which is on the other side of King's, suddenly closed this week. The lights are off (except for the kitchen lights, which remain on), and there's a handwritten sign in the window saying that it's the new/future home of El Gran Castillo.

As much as I like a diner, I was never very impressed with Z-7 beyond its 24-hour schedule (sometimes you need a snack at 12am...)

That was the best part of it. I can't think of any other 24 hour options for prepared food around there (i.e. not Key Food). Though they were oddly closed on New Years Eve, when all I wanted around 2am was a damned grilled cheese sandwich and a plate of fries.

El Gran Castillo has become one of our favorite take-outs since we moved to Brooklyn in September. The new location is a half block closer to us, so that's a plus. And we definitely enjoyed the meaty wind when it blew toward the street by the subway entrance. But now it wafts into our apartment all day, into our bedroom and the small office where I work. I'm getting a pretty good whiff even as I write.